WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 28, 2019 17
Warmer weather means not
only saying goodbye to the
tough winter conditions
your car or truck has endured, but
also getting your vehicles - and
outdoor power equipment - ready for
the changing seasons.
This is a great opportunity to get
outside and tend to the vital cleaning
and maintenance that the machines
you rely on need to function well
year-round.
1. Clean it. Whether we’re
talking about your car, truck or
outdoor power equipment, like your
lawnmower, it could use a thorough
cleaning if it endured winter elements
or was stuck in your garage.
For your vehicles, this means a
complete wash, and making sure to
thoroughly clean out the accumulated
road salt from your undercarriage
and the entire outer surface of your
vehicles, plus the interior.
If you ran out of time last fall and did
not properly store your lawnmower
or other outdoor power equipment,
you’re going to have to take extra care
getting your equipment out of storage
for the first time this year. Clean
the dirt, grass or other debris from
your machinery before the fi rst use.
While cleaning, check for damage or
needed repairs that can range from
wear on the cord to tightening up nuts
or getting the blades sharpened. It’s
easier to assess the condition of any
vehicle or piece of outdoor power
equipment once you’ve gotten the
basic cleaning fi nished.
To clean the insides of any gasoline
engines, including vehicles and
outdoor power equipment, use STABIL
360 Protection at each fill-up
to help keep fuel fresh for up to 12
months and to increase your engine’s
power and fuel effi ciency. STA-BIL 360
Protection prevents corrosion caused
by moisture and today’s ethanol
blended fuels.
2. Maintain it. Every vehicle and
piece of outdoor power equipment
you own needs regular maintenance
to keep it running smoothly and to
prevent problems down the road.
Vehicles require regular
maintenance, including oil changes,
tire rotations and checking all your
fluids - from coolant and power
steering to transmission and brake
fluid. Test your wiper blades and
replace them if winter usage has
worn them out. Finally, to reduce the
chance of being stuck on the roadside,
examine your tires to make sure
they not only have enough air, but
also have the appropriate amount of
tread left .
As for your lawnmower, it requires
much of the same maintenance that
your car does, although most forget
it until it’s too late. First, review the
basics. Start by making sure your oil
is full and has been changed recently.
Check your air fi lter, because it may
have become clogged with leaves
from fall’s fi nal mowing. Examine the
spark plug, which needs to be changed
from time to time. While the spark
plug is still disconnected, be sure to
look at your blade, because a sharp
blade not only cuts better but helps
promote a healthy lawn by cutting
the grass properly and not tearing it.
Lastly, there are few additional things
to be aware of if your mower has them
- items like drive belts, on both riding
mowers and self-propelled mowers,
and fuel fi lters on some models - that
can experience wear and may need
to be changed.
3. Protect it. UV protection is
not just for your skin. While one
third of respondents in a recent
survey believed that vehicles did
not experience UV damage, the sun’s
rays can in fact damage any of your
vehicle’s rubber, vinyl or plastic
surfaces. The truth is, protecting
surfaces like your vehicle’s
dashboard from sun damage on a
regular basis can result in a betterlooking,
longer-lasting vehicle. This
is even more crucial for convertibles
and jeeps. 303 Automotive Protectant
keeps surfaces appearing newer and
prevents cracking and fading.
The majority (52 percent) of people
surveyed said they waxed or detailed
their vehicle only twice per year, while
about 29 percent said they waxed their
car monthly. Surprisingly, residents
of the Midwest - where extreme
weather and road salt can really take
its toll on vehicles - are noticeably less
likely than people in other regions to
detail or wax their cars, with nearly
one third of people claiming to do it
less than once a year or never. This
may be due to the time it takes to get
your vehicle waxed. But now there’s
an easier solution - 303 Touchless
Sealant lasts up to two times longer
than traditional wax, and you simply
spray it on and rinse for superior
water beading and protection against
paint fading in minutes.
Spring is all about gearing up for
outdoor activities with friends and
family. Take a little time to prep
your vehicles and outdoor power
equipment before warmer weather
arrives, and you’ll have a worry-free
spring and summer doing all the
things you enjoy.
Courtesy BPT
AT HOME
Don’t be left behind: 3 tips to prep for spring
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